As middle schoolers, Noah Lieberman and Shane Haley watched in awe as the Champlain Valley Union High School boys soccer team won title after title during a run of six straight Division I championships that ended in 2007.

Once in high school, the duo, one a midfielder, the other a striker, naturally thought they would stuff more hardware in the trophy case at the Hinesburg school commonly referred to as “Soccer Central.”

But an early quarterfinal exit in 2010 was followed by a title-game defeat last year, a blow to Lieberman, Haley and the six other Redhawk seniors who had hoped to graduate with at least one title-wearing season.

Those bitter memories were wiped away in a blink of an eye Saturday.

Haley pounced on a rebound and blasted a shot high into the net just 1:15 into the first overtime, a golden goal that sent No. 2 CVU to a 1-0 victory over fifth-seeded Burlington at Buck Hard Field.

“I knew I wasn’t going to leave CVU without a championship and I can say the same for Shane,” said Lieberman, who was credited the assist on Haley’s winner.

Driven by past postseason failures, the Redhawks were on a mission in an offseason that kicked into high gear during summer trainings and extended into the regular season with a commitment to weekday, early morning weight training.

This was a title, the program’s 17th overall, that was earned on the pitch with determination, fitness and skill — and not just by the names that dot the Redhawks’ roster annually.

“Our entire team realized we weren’t going to win a championship based on raw talent,” Haley said. “We really had to work for it and it finally paid off. It feels great.”

The Redhawks’ season of redemption finished at 16-1-1, outscoring opponents 70-7, including 14-2 in four playoff games. They blanked their opponents in 11 of those contests and never yielded two goals in any game.

“I think the last two seasons were championships we should have won just by with what we had on our roster,” said CVU coach TJ Mead, who joined his players during intense summer pickup games. “And to not win them, I think the boys knew that was unacceptable and I knew it was unacceptable.”

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In Saturday’s final, it was the Seahorses (14-3-1) who controlled possession and had the better of the chances. Salumo Felekeni hit the right post in the 11th minute, Jackson Donald appeared to have hit another midway through the second half and Tobias Muellers, off Nghia Nguyen’s curling corner, struck a header inside the 6-yard box that was gathered up by CVU goalkeeper Brandon O’Connell (six saves).

“I think we got a bit of a clinic today in possession,” said Mead of Burlington’s pretty passing connections. “I think one of the things we did to combat that possession was being patient and also display work rate. With injuries, only 12 guys played and I think the drive was certainly there.”

CVU also generated a spate of quality looks, but none greater than the decisive play. In transition, Tucker Shelley found Lieberman, who worked his way into the 18-yard box and rifled a shot that BHS goalie Will Rider (four saves) deflected away with his hand. The ball remained in play and Haley was there to deliver CVU’s first title in three years.

“The defense gave us 90 minutes and did their job, so we could do ours. They deserve the credit because they stopped a great Burlington offense,” Lieberman said.

BHS coach Bob Day was proud of his Seahorses’ display of soccer.

“For 30 minutes I was more of a fan than a coach. That’s a great compliment to the players,” said Day of his players’ top-notch ball control. “That’s the way it is and why it’s called the beautiful game. … One dynamic play can decide the match and that’s what happened.”

For Mead, his fourth title in seven seasons as coach harked back memories of the 1999 title he won as a player.

“I sensed that pressure a little bit. Maybe there was a similar feeling here. This senior class really wanted it,” said Mead, whose 1999 CVU squad ended a six-year title drought. “I just think all of us worked so much harder for this one than the other championships I’ve won (as a coach).”